I do not understand how the polls are so close, are they polling turnips?

[DainBramaged]

Or just trying to 'keep' it close to make the race interesting and gain advertising money for the media. Even the Republicans at work are basically saying Obama is the lesser of two evils (their words NOT mine) and that encourages me even more.

'They' are fucking with us. I've been a registered Democrat since 1969. I have never in my life received a polling call except from a firm wanting to ask about frosting years ago. Frosting, now that's relevant to me......

[orpupilofnature57]

1. Mushrooms

Not the magic ones.

[lastlib]

31. Kept in the dark and fed nothing but bullshit.

[Zalatix]

2. President Obama is suffering under a crappy economy, the same thing sank Jimmy Carter

That, and all 56 million rabidly insane voters who stuck with McCain & Palin in 2008 despite their nutjobbery, are coming back for revenge this year. All 56 million.

[lunasun]

28. gas prices alone are moving folks away from Obama

The signs I see are aimed at undecided voters around here- stuff like> regret your vote for O? Then vote for R!
The hard core Gops have been wrapped up for awhile they are going after indies esp. small business and suburban women who may have voted for O last time and not seen enough change
and gas hits many in the pocket and it hurts.
They are dumb enuf to think Obama controls gas prices and the stock market
yeah I agree he could be another Carter esp. if Israel rattles and rolls and he resists in october or something

Frequent regime /political turnover is a sign of a country in chaos imo

[Zalatix]

32. That fire in Richmond was PLANNED.

That's why prices are going up. These fires and accidents happen on schedule. When prices go way down, there's an accident.

[lunasun]

33. and a lot of money holders are staying out of market to make a difference too

[AverageJoe90]

38. I haven't been seeing that at all.

Where are you? Some areas have a far bigger issue with uninformed voters than others.....

[seabeyond]

3. about a week ago when polls shifted, i heard the were now polling registered voters instead of

likely voters and the skewed to repug advantage, but was not a realistic view.

[russspeakeasy]

4. The secret to polling is in the question.

Does Obama deserve some of the blame for the economy ? Do you think that new ideas are needed ?

Both questions register a "vote for rmoney".

[KaryninMiami]

5. It's very disheartening indeed.

But remember- there are a huge number of people who just hate Obama- between the racism,fear mongering, the "he's not one of us" bullshit, the barrage of lies and billions being spent to discredit the accomplishments of the last 3 years- it all adds up. This is not going to be an easy one to win- and there's a good chance, as pointed out by Michael Moore, that we will loose. Because in addition to the tactics I just mentioned, add the disenfranchisement, purging, voter IDs and of course my personal favorite, rigged electronic machines which will always skim off between 1 and 3 points per district every where they can (which is in swing states that vote on machines). Terrifying I know but it is what it is. That's why my mantra is - WE NEED A LANDSLIDE or we are screwed.

[MANative]

6. Essentially, yes.

The average intelligence, awareness, and attentiveness of the typical U.S. citizen is horrifically low, and falling. The Repubs systematic and deliberate evisceration of our education system is working exactly as they intended. Case in point: "Honey Boo Boo." It appalls me that this drivel has been in the media enough that I know who that little... urchin is. Hillbilly chic is all the rage, and the "dumber" you are, the cooler you are. I feel like a friggin' dinosaur.

[lunasun]

30. yeah they have pulled the rug out of public ed for a reason

dont want anyone thinkin for themselves or aware of too much history

wont need drugs to get stupid ...well and most wont have the cash either soon

[milwaukeelib33]

7. Unnecessary angst

R&R are riding their bump. Next week Obama will be right back on top.

As far as why things appear to be close, after what happened in 2000, 2004, 2010 are we really surprised? After what just happened in Wisconsin? We know there is about 45% of voters that will religiously turn out to vote repug even if the polling place is burning and their candidate is an empty beer can.

So, seriously. Those envisioning a 15-20 point blowout with Obama running away in these early polls need to remember that. Obama will be fine. I predict he'll get 53-54% of the popular vote and win the EC. Most would agree that's a solid win, and a mandate to push forward with his agenda. I hope one of his first actions in his second term is some sort of large scale civilian jobs program like the WPA that will once and for all get our economy booming again.

[Panasonic]

22. His first act is to declare "I have a mandate from the people, and I intend to use it"

and start attacking Republicans with rubber ducks until the Republicans leave their seats and flee in terror.

Then we can work on the ideas that Obama wanted implemented since 2009.

[DainBramaged]

24. Against the Right wing, there is NO such think as unnecessary angst

hell they've angsted the Congress to a standstill for nearly four years.

[Flashmann]

8. The question of HOW

They are polling may be as relevant as Who they are polling....

I've been polled twice,in the past several weeks by phone.In both cases the way the questions were formed and posed,gave me a strong sense that I was being steered toward particular replies.I had to stop and think on the few questions on which they wanted a slighty expansive answer,and carefully choose my words.They really gave the impression,that although they ASKED me to,they really didn't want me to expound.Many other questions required of of 3 or 4 provided answers that really didn't precisely reflect what me response would have been.

Anecdotally,my Mother in Law spoke recently,of responding to a phone poll,in which she answered how she thought they wanted her to,mainly to be done with them.In retrospect,I'm betting she was being manipulated.

I can see how,if one isn't paying close attention,one can be steered into providing answered that fall into preconceived parameters.

[DonRedwood]

9. my first outloud laugh of the day

merci

[dawg]

10. Unadjusted poll numbers of voting-age adults give the President a huge advantage.

Narrow that down to registered voters, and the lead is still beyond the margin of error but much smaller.

Narrow it down again to "likely" voters, and the lead nearly evaporates.

If everyone voted, the Republican party would be a regional party with no real power except at the state level.

[sibelian]

39. This is the most pertinent observation.

Could I ask you to repost as a thread or may I quote you in doing so? I think everyone needs to hear it.

[dawg]

43. If you're willing to look up the actual numbers ....

by all means post a thread. I would do so myself, but I'm feeling too lazy at the moment!

[AverageJoe90]

42. Maybe.

[dballance]

11. They are so totally lying

Either they want to make it interesting to keep up the news coverage or they are covering for the voter fraud they will use to steal the election.

There is just no freaking way Lurch Romney is holding a close margin with Obama. There has never been a more dislikable candidate than Romney who is such a congenital liar.

[Firesidechat]

25. younger voters ???

What's Obama percentage of the 18-30 year old vote this year ????

Anyone Know ???

[dogknob]

12. tight race = ratings = ad $$$ n/t

[stubtoe]

13. I believe they poll only in the "battleground" states.

Something I learned at NPR a few weeks ago. Anyway, the results get extrapolated nationally, which is pure bullshit when you think about it.

[spanone]

14. people pay to have polls made...you don't disappoint the customer

[Generic Brad]

15. There are a lot of scared people out there

The most vocal Republicans in my life are the ones who have the least. I seriously think they are afraid they will have what little they have left taken away from them. So they clamor for protection from the people who give them bullet point plans, easy solutions to complex problems, and a guarantee to keep them safe.

Scared people do not necessarily behave rationally.

[ailsagirl]

16. Just ignore them-- I do. Even when they say Obama is ahead.

Instead I go to Nate Silver's electoral map, which had Obama at 332 and Nitt at 206 (for Aug. 31st)

http://electoral-vote.com/evp2012/Pres/Maps/Aug31-noras.html

[elleng]

27. I'll vote for that. Thanks.

[jimlup]

17. I think maybe most turnips are more informed than the typical repuke voter /nt

[OffWithTheirHeads]

18. I sooo want that bumper sticker!

[SoapBox]

19. Only some turnips...

ya know, the ones that just "fell off the truck"!

[Honeycombe8]

20. I've never been polled, either. I have a landline, too. Still...

Republicans support the Republican candidate. It's that simple. Even if they don't much care for him.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

21. It's the polarization that Rove planted and nurtured since 2000. nt

[treestar]

23. The Dem Convention, Debates and the greater exposure to the news

Is bound to help Obama and Biden and harm Rmoney/Lyan.

Non-political types just aren't thinking yet. They may be interested in Rmoney because they think things are in shit and he's different. But let them get to know him a little . . and be reminded of what the President is like . . .

[elleng]

26. They don't know how to poll,

landlines and/or cells; different from the past.

Discussed here a bit: http://electoral-vote.com/evp2012/Info/rasmussen.html

[reformist2]

29. A lot of people are disappointed in Obama, but they should come around.

[davidn3600]

34. I did get a call from Gallup once...

A few months back, it showed "GALLUP POLL" on my caller ID. I wasn't home at the time though and they never called back.

[ThomThom]

44. my bank called the other week to ask if service at my local bank branch

was ok when a last had business there. My caller ID said Gallup. They are in on the bank customer service payroll too. So it might not have been political polling.

[mick063]

35. It is the FOX factor.

The Lemmings are brainwashed.

[SoCalDem]

36. Pollsters poll for whatever result the "payer" wants..

and close poll results means they need to keep polling...

$$$$$$$$$$$$$

and media eats this stuff up, so they can keep people tuning in to see what happens next..

[Jennicut]

37. I've been polled but only by Quinnipiac.

In 2008 for national and local races. I live in Connecticut too and that is where Quinnipiac is out of.

It is close because there are many, many red states and just look at flyover country. This is still a country divided and has been since 2000. Obama may ironically win with the electoral college even if he didn't win the popular vote. I don't think the polls are all that off, honestly. I know I live in a very blue state but the minute I go toward the south, people are much more Conservative in general. The pace of life is slower, people are more traditional. I still think Obama will win but whenever anyone gets frustrated at the polling just remember that some parts of the midwest, west and the south are very, very different then the blue states on either coast and the upper midwest.

[B Calm]

40. Everywhere you look you see Romney bumper

stickers, NOT!

[AverageJoe90]

41. They're definitely fucking with us, no question about it.

All the est organizations are showing Obama with a decent lead over Romney as far as the state polls go(Well, at least in most of the areas that count). And the state polls are what really count, from what I've learned. If there's anyone I'll trust on the national level, it'd be Nate Silver, because he actually knows what he's doing......